Living Stones Fashioned by Faith, Made Firm in Hope, Cemented by Love

30th October 2026 , Leave a comment

“You are living stones, built as a spiritual house in a holy priesthood, that you may offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 2:4-6

So the Lord will repay his faithful followers who are so lovingly, so cheerfully, so devotedly carrying out these works, to the effect that he includes them in the construction of his own building, into which they hasten to fit as living stones (1 Peter 2:5), fashioned by faith, made solidly firm by hope, cemented together by charity. 

This is the building in which that wise architect the apostle placed Christ Jesus as the foundation (1 Corinthians 3:10-11), also as the supreme cornerstone (Isaiah 28:16); one which, as Peter also reminds us from the prophetic scripture, was rejected indeed by men, but chosen and honored by God (1 Peter 2:4; Psalm 118:22). 

By adhering to this stone we are joined peaceably together; by resting on it we are fixed firmly in place. You see, he is at one and the same time the foundation stone, because he is the one who regulates us, and the cornerstone, because it is he that joins us together. 

He is the rock on which the wise man builds his house, and thus continues in utter security against all the trials and temptations of this world, neither collapsing when the rain pours down, nor being swept away when the river floods, nor overthrown when the winds blow.

[Sermons 337]

We Are Living Stones in the Household of God

 by Origen of Alexandria

All of us who believe in Christ Jesus are said to be living stones, according to the words of Scripture: “But you are living stones, built as a spiritual house in a holy priesthood, that you may offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-6).

When we look at an earthly building, we can see that the larger and stronger stones are the first to be set in place as the foundation, so that the weight of the whole structure may rest on them securely. In the same way understand that some of the living stones become the foundation of the spiritual building. What are these living stones placed in the foundation? They are the apostles and prophets. That is what Paul says when he teaches: 

“We have been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with our Lord Jesus Christ himself as the cornerstone.”

Ephesians 2:20

You, my hearers, must learn that Christ himself is also the foundation of the building we are now describing, so that you may prepare yourselves more eagerly for the construction of this building and become stones that lie closer to the foundation. As the apostle Paul says: “No foundation can be laid other than the one that has been laid already: I mean Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 3:11). Blessed are those, therefore, who build a religious and holy structure upon such a noble foundation.

In this building of the church, there must also be an altar. I think that if those of you, disposed and eager for prayer, offer petitions and prayers of supplication to God day and night, you will become the living stones for the altar which Jesus is building.

Consider what praise is ascribed to these stones which make up the altar. “The lawgiver Moses said that the altar was to be made of stones, uncovered by iron” (Deuteronomy 27:5). What are those stones? Perhaps those uncut and undefiled stones are the holy apostles, all making a single altar, because of their unity of mind and heart. For it was known that with one accord they all opened their lips to pray: “You, Lord, know the hearts of all” (Acts 1:24).

Therefore, these who were able to pray with one mind, one voice and one spirit, are perhaps worthy to form together one altar, where Jesus may offer his sacrifice to the Father. Let us strive to agree among ourselves and to have one mind and voice. May we never quarrel or act from vainglory. But may we remain united in belief and purpose. Then even we may hope to become stones fit for the altar.

[Source: Homilia 9, 1-2: SC 71, 244-246]

Top image credit: Illustration of Jesus laying the foundation stones with his apostles, and disciples joining in the building as living stones of God’s household. Image created with digital paintbrush and AI enhanced artwork from © Artstyles.com. Used with permission.

Authors

  • Aurelius Augustine was born in 345 in the town of Tagaste, in Roman North Africa, in what is today Algeria. His mother was Monica, a very devout Christian who had a significant influence on her son’s life. His father, named Patricius, was a pagan of significant status in society. Patricius became a Christian shortly before his death. 

    Augustine was educated at Carthage where he enjoyed academic success. He also enjoyed the party life, and at the age of 17 fell in love with a woman whom he never named. They lived together unmarried for 13 years and had a son whom Augustine named Adeodatus, meaning “gift from God.” His son died in his youth.

    At the age of 19, after reading Cicero's Hortensiusat, Augustine fell in love with philosophy. He later wrote, “It gave me different values and priorities. Suddenly every vain hope became empty to me, and I longed for the immortality of wisdom with an incredible ardour in my heart.” While he pursued Platonic philosophy and the theology of the Manichaens, a Christian heretical sect, he became restless for truth and virtue. Shortly before his 30th birthday, Augustine encountered Ambrose, the saintly bishop of Milan. Augustine was moved by Ambrose’s example and his inspired teaching and preaching of the gospel. At the age of 32 Augustine found peace with God and was baptized by Ambrose during the Easter liturgy in 387. Augustine returned to North Africa and formed a monastic community with a group of friends. He was ordained a priest in 391 and became a noted preacher. In 396 he reluctantly became a bishop and remained the bishop of Hippo until his death in 430. He left his monastic community, but continued to lead a monastic life with the parish priests of Hippo in his episcopal residence. Augustine died on August 28, 430, during the siege of Hippo by the Vandals.

    Augustine was a prolific writer and original thinker. His numerous writings, including theological treatises, sermons, scripture commentaries, and philosophical dialogues, number into the hundreds. His autobiography, the Confessions, was considerded the first Western autobiography. It was highly read among his contemporaries and has continued as a classic throughout the ages. 

    Augustine is one of the most important figures in the development of Western Christianity. He is esteemed as a great Latin church father and a Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church. Many Protestants consider him to be one of the theological fathers of Reformation teaching. Among Orthodox he is called St. Augustine the Blessed.

  • Brief bio of Origen of Alexandria 

    Origin (185-254 AD) was a Bible scholar and philospher based in Alexandria, Egypt and later in Caesarea in Palestine. He lived during a turbulent time of barbarian invasians, periodic persecutions, and rampant Gnostic heresy. The death of his father as a Christian martyr deeply affected him. The Christian historian Eusebius tells us that Origen was only seventeen when he took over as headmaster of the Christian Catechetical School at Alexandria. He was a prolific writer of homilies, scripture commentaries, and treatises.

    Under the persecution of Decius in 250, Origen was imprisoned and underwent appalling tortue. After his release he died at the age of 69 in 254.

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